News - Pope Benedict XVI at WYD Madrid 2011 (41 images)

The prayer vigil in Cuatro Vientos air base on Saturday was the first occasion when the 1.5 million pilgrims, who congregated in Madrid for World Youth Day, came together to see Pope Benditct XVI.
Pilgrims started arriving early in the day some walking from the centre of Madrid, some bused in, and others used public transport. During the day and well into the evening temperatures reached 38-40C. The first aid medical services were inundated with requests throughout the evening.
...
more »

The prayer vigil in Cuatro Vientos air base on Saturday was the first occasion when the 1.5 million pilgrims, who congregated in Madrid for World Youth Day, came together to see Pope Benditct XVI.
Pilgrims started arriving early in the day some walking from the centre of Madrid, some bused in, and others used public transport. During the day and well into the evening temperatures reached 38-40C. The first aid medical services were inundated with requests throughout the evening.
About two hours before the event started the organizers declares a emergency situation and bottles of water were distributed free when before they cost 1 euro. Fire fighters were constantly spraying crowds with water to the relief of the pilgrims.
Unfortunately, the lightning storm and downpour arrived at a very inopportune time. A short time after the Pope got on stage to proceed with the vigil the heavens opened with a huge downpour. The proceedings had to be stopped for a while to decide what to do next.
By the time I got to the press enclosure, I was more or less in the middle of the first section after the VIP area, the rain became rather heavy. On the tv screen in the press marquee I saw Cardinal Rouco, the host of WYD, with a rather worried look on his face. Two weeks before he asked the faithful in Spain to pray for clement weather when the Pope is in Spain.
However, the weather did not stop the Vigil and the pilgrims were no less enthusiastic for the opportunity to be with the pope in Cuatro Vientos.
World Youth Day ended on Sunday 21 August when the Pope celebrated Mass and then declared Rio de Janeiro for the next WYD in 2013. (Text by Laurence JC Baron)
« less